Temperatures pushing the century mark are typically far above the threshold at which I leave the hiking boots on the rack. It takes something special, then, to coax me out in that kind of weather. So it was on this day when I found myself with a few hours to burn in the greater Winston-Salem area. I don't find myself in that part of the state all that often and Pilot Mountain is a place I've long desired to hit the trail so, when the opportunity presented itself this July, I decided to take it...100-degree temperatures or otherwise.

Pilot Mountain is one of those mountains that, once you see it, you don't soon forget. It's round pinnacle of a summit, ringed by 300' cliffs, rises dramatically some 1,400-feet from the surrounding Piedmont. It's a very striking sight. Located about a thirty minute drive north of Winston-Salem, the peak is part of the ancient Sauratown Mountain Range. The Sauratown's, at some 500+ million years in age, predate even the nearby Appalachian Mountains. The fact that Pilot rises so dramatically from its surroundings is that it (and the rest of the Sauratown's) are capped by a very erosion-resistant type of quartzite which has allowed the mountain to retain its rugged form even as the surrounding Piedmont has been eroded flat. In more modern times the area was inhabited by the Saura Indian Tribe who referred to the peak as 'Jomoekee' which means 'great guide'. Similarly, early white settlers in the area started referring to the mountain by its current name, 'Pilot'. Pilot Mountain State Park was established in 1968 and now encompasses some 3,700-acres of land which includes the entirety of the mountain itself as well as a small slice of land along the Yadkin River just to the south. Around 15-miles of trails ring the mountain but, upon a quick look at the map, you'll notice none actually ascend to the actual summit of Pilot. This is due to the fact that it, and particularly the cliffs surrounding it, have been made strictly off-limits to protect rare plant communities which inhabit them as well as protecting raven nesting grounds.

So the plan for this day was to make a brief hike around the upper-most reaches of the park. I knew my energy reserves would be quickly depleted in the oppressive heat so keeping things short and simple seemed a wise choice. Parking at the summit lot I would make a double loop along the summit ridge. I would first head west from the parking lot and explore the the rugged cliffs along the Ledge Spring Trail. I'd follow that up with the loop around the Big Pinnacle itself via the Jomeokee Trail. The heat non-withstanding, this was a great hike. Short and to the point it was far more fascinating and visually stimulating than I imagined it would be. So, without further adieu, I present Pilot Mountain State Park. Please sit back in your air conditioned comfort and let me sweat it out for you as I explore yet another gem of the North Carolina State Park system.

Pilot Mountain State Park, Surry County (7-24-16)

The park office/visitor center is quite a humble structure...honestly, it felt like walking into a DMV office...

Pilot Mountain State Park Trail Map

A shot of the trail map which is posted at most major trail intersections within the park. You can see my route here, first making the Ledge Spring Loop and then the other loop around Big Pinnacle via the Jomeokee Trail...

Pilot Mountain Hike Route Map

My route as tracked by Gaia GPS and presented a la Google Earth...

Pilot Mountain Hike Route Map

My route as tracked by Gaia GPS...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trailhead

The Ledge Spring Trail departs from the southwest corner of the parking lot...

Summit Parking Area Overlook

A nice treat was the fact I didn't have to wait at all for my first taste of eye candy. This overlook is located at the south end of the parking lot and looks south over the flatlands of the Piedmont...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

The Ledge Spring Trail leaves the parking area and immediately passes through the summit picnic area...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

First steps into the woods on the Ledge Spring Trail...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

Signs along the trail stated that only climbers should leave the trail for the nearby cliff areas but I felt my hiking experience level meant I could explore a bit off-trail...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

Another ledge with a wonderful view south over the Piedmont...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

It is amazing how the terrain goes from high mountain ledges to low flatlands in such a short distance here...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

One last ledge before continuing on the trail...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

Not four years ago Pilot Mountain was engulfed in a massive wildfire. Evidence of the big burn was still widely seen along the route...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

Passing Three Bears Gully, a short but extremely steep short-cut to the lower portion of the Ledge Spring Trail...

Three Bears Gully

Looking down the gully...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

Nothing special here...just a giant clifftop boulder...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

As the Ledge Spring Trail nears the western extremity of its loop it descends the ridge via a series of short switchbacks...

Mountain/Ledge Spring Trail

The long sweeping descent at the western end of my loop around the Ledge Spring Trail...

Mountain-Ledge Spring Trail Junction

About a mile in the Ledge Spring Trail made a hairpin turn left while the Mountain Trail continued straight ahead...

Ledge Spring Trail

Now heading east again I continued to descend the ridge ever so gradually...

In places the trail bumps right up against the base of the cliffs...sometimes, like here, even under them...

Ledge Spring Trail

This was a brutal climb in the heat but, I had to admire the care put into constructing the trail...

Ledge Spring Trail

Passing beneath another overhanging ledge...

Ledge Spring Trail

Layered rock cliffs tower 100+ feet overhead...

Ledge Spring Trail

This was simply a spectacular stretch of trail...

Ledge Spring Trail

In places, where no doubt the fire of 2012 had cleared things out, I had cliffs on one side and sweeping views of the Piedmont far below to the other...

Ledge Spring Trail

More than a few people were enjoying their day scaling the cliffs...

Ledge Spring Trail

Continuing along the cliffs...

Ledge Spring Trail

Another view south over the scorching Yadkin River valley...

Ledge Spring Trail

In places the trail passed through these interesting tall, thin shrubs. My botanical knowledge fails me with these...if anyone knows what they are let me know...

Ledge Spring Trail

Nearing the eastern end of the Ledge Spring Loop the cliffs still weren't letting up...

Ledge Spring Trail

Suddenly through the trees ahead appeared the dome of the Big Pinnacle...

Ledge Spring Trail

Descending to the Jomeokee Trail with Big Pinnacle towering above...

Ledge Spring-Jomeokee Trail Junction

The east end of the Ledge Spring Loop is where I'd be making my turn onto the Jomeokee Trail which would take me on my next loop around the cliffs of Big Pinnacle...

Jomeokee Trail

A unpretentious sign reminds visitors to stay on the trail. Not sure how much good its doing as I saw quite a few people climbing around on the base of the cliffs...flagrantly disregarding the warnings...

Jomeokee Trail

Climbing towards Big Pinnacle...did I mention how hot it was at this point?...

Jomeokee Trail

There was a strange beauty in the fire-recovering forest here...

Jomeokee Trail

I opted to do the loop around the pinnacle in a clockwise direction. It wasn't long before its 200' cliffs were towering above me...

Jomeokee Trail

Winding through the scruffy woods at the base of the cliffs...

Jomeokee Trail

Looking up the cliffs of Big Pinnacle...

Jomeokee Trail

Even the benches along these trails have been constructed from native rock slabs...again, kudos to the people who constructed these paths...

Jomeokee Trail

Rounding the eastern-most point of the Jomeokee Trail...

Jomeokee Trail

This break in the trees framed a wonderful view east to the mountains of Hanging Rock State Park...

Jomeokee Trail

Another panorama to the east and south. The eastern Sauratown Moutnains of Hanging Rock State Park are on the left while I-74/US-52 slices through the trees headed south...

Jomeokee Trail

I-74/US-52 heads south towards Winston-Salem, hidden in the distant haze...